Electronic device protection

Abstract

Apparatus, systems and methods for electronic device protection are provided. A particular apparatus includes a non-conductive substrate and a plurality of cells including conductive members coupled to the non-conductive substrate. The conductive members are arranged to form a first discontinuous mesh, where each conductive member of a cell is separated from conductive members of adjacent cells by a gap and a cavity is defined in the non-conductive substrate at a location of each gap.

1. An apparatus, comprising:
 a non-conductive substrate; and 
 a plurality of cells including conductive members coupled to the non-conductive substrate, wherein the conductive members are arranged to form a first discontinuous mesh, wherein each conductive member of a cell is separated from conductive members of adjacent cells by a gap, and wherein a cavity is defined in the non-conductive substrate at a location of each gap. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus permits propagation therethrough of a first electromagnetic waveform having a first wavelength. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein, when the apparatus is subjected to a second electromagnetic waveform having a second wavelength, the apparatus blocks propagation of the second electromagnetic waveform. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein each cavity includes a gas that forms a plasma when the gas is excited by a particular electromagnetic waveform. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein dimensions of the plurality of cells are selected to permit transmission of a first electromagnetic waveform having a first wavelength through the apparatus and to block transmission of a second electromagnetic waveform having a second wavelength through the apparatus, wherein the second wavelength is different than the first wavelength. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , wherein each of the plurality of cells is approximately square and has a length of approximately one-half of the second wavelength. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the length is approximately one-twenty-fifth of the first wavelength. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of second cells including second conductive members spaced apart by second gaps to form a second discontinuous mesh, wherein the second discontinuous mesh is layered over the first discontinuous mesh, and wherein the second gaps have a different width than a width of the gap of the first discontinuous mesh. 
     
     
       9. A system, comprising:
 an electronic device; 
 a protection device to protect the electronic device by selectively blocking electromagnetic radiation, the protection device comprising:
 a non-conductive substrate; and 
 a plurality of cells including conductive members coupled to the non-conductive substrate, wherein the conductive members are arranged to form a discontinuous mesh, wherein each conductive member of a cell is separated from conductive members of adjacent cells by a gap, and wherein a cavity is defined in the substrate at a location of each gap. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the electronic device comprises an antenna. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the electronic device is operable to transmit a signal having a first electromagnetic waveform, and wherein, in a first operational state, the protection device is substantially transparent to the first electromagnetic waveform. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the protection device operates in a second operational state when exposed to a second electromagnetic waveform that is different than the first electromagnetic waveform, and wherein, in the second operational state, the protection device is substantially opaque to the first electromagnetic waveform and to the second electromagnetic waveform. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein a time required to switch from the first operational state to the second operational state is about 2 nanoseconds or less. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a second electronic device, the second electronic device adapted to radiate a third electromagnetic waveform, wherein, when the protection device is subjected to the third electromagnetic waveform, the protection device blocks transmission of the electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
       15. A method, comprising:
 permitting a first signal having a first electromagnetic waveform to pass through an apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
 a non-conductive substrate; and 
 a plurality of cells including conductive members coupled to the non-conductive substrate, wherein the conductive members are arranged to form a discontinuous mesh, wherein each conductive member of a cell is separated from conductive members of adjacent cells by a gap, and wherein a cavity is defined in the substrate at a location of each gap; and 
 
 blocking a second signal having a second electromagnetic waveform at the apparatus, wherein the second electromagnetic waveform is different than the first electromagnetic waveform. 
 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 15 , wherein the second electromagnetic waveform causes a material present in the cavity at each gap to be ionized to form a plasma. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 15 , wherein a wavelength of the second electromagnetic waveform is less than a wavelength of the first electromagnetic waveform. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 15 , wherein a power of the second signal when the second signal is received at the apparatus is greater than a power of the first signal when the first signal is received at the apparatus. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 15 , further comprising applying an activation signal to the apparatus to cause the second signal to be blocked. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first signal has a first polarization and the second signal has a second polarization that is different from the first polarization, and wherein the second signal is blocked based on a polarization of the activation signal. 
     
     
       21. An apparatus, comprising:
 a non-conductive substrate; and 
 a plurality of conductive members coupled to the non-conductive substrate, the plurality of conductive members arranged to form a discontinuous mesh defining gaps between adjacent conductive members, wherein a cavity including a gas is defined at each gap, wherein the gas forms a plasma that electrically bridges the gaps to form an electrically continuous mesh in response to electromagnetic radiation. 
 
     
     
       22. The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the gas forms the plasma in response to electromagnetic radiation that has first characteristics, and when the plasma electrically bridges the gaps, the electromagnetic radiation having the first characteristics is inhibited from passing through the apparatus. 
     
     
       23. The apparatus of  claim 22 , wherein the apparatus allows electromagnetic radiation that has second characteristics that are different from the first characteristics to pass through the apparatus.